Silver oxide
Description
Dark brown or black powder. Silver oxide is used for polishing glass and for coloring glass yellow. It has also been used at excavation sites for the treatment of bronze disease. However, it is not as effective as benzotriazole and can leave dark spots on the surface. Silver oxide is used medicinally as a germicide.
Synonyms and Related Terms
argentous oxide; argenticoxide; silver peroxide; disilver oxide
Other Properties
Soluble in solutions of ammonium hydroxide, potassium cyanide sodium thiosulfate and nitric acid. Slightly soluble in water. Insoluble in ethanol.
| Composition | Ag2O |
|---|---|
| CAS | 20667-12-3 |
| Melting Point | 300 (dec) |
| Density | 7.14-7.22 |
| Molecular Weight | mol. wt. = 231.74 |
Hazards and Safety
Fire and explosion risk in contact with organic materials or ammonia. Decomposes in sunlight to form metallic silver and oxygen. Contact may cause iiritation and staining.
Mallinckrodt Baker: MSDS
Authority
- Marie Svoboda, Conservation Survey Index, unpublished, 1997
- Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
- The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998